Mental Illness Care

Mental illness care is the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.  There are many forms of mental illness.  Common forms are schizophrenia, alzheimer’s disease, dementia, ect.  These generally stem from depression. 

Depression is a very common form of mental illness.  It can be treated by timely mental health care.  It can include physical as well as emotional symptoms. Depression is controlled by chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.  There are other symptoms such as digestive problems or even unexplained aches and pains.

First, the mental health care provider must find out why and how this illness occurs.  Long-term depression is also called clinical depression.  It is a mood disorder.  Bipolar disorder which used to be called manic depression involves changing episodes of mania and depression.  Postpartum depression occurs within the first year after childbirth. 

Physical symptoms should not be overlooked when detecting depression.  While emotional symptoms have always been used to diagnose depression.

Here are some ways to determine if an individual is experiencing depression.  Has the individual lost interest or pleasure in life?  Are they in an irritable mood most of the time? Does the person experience a constant sense of guilt?  A reduced ability to concentrate or significant weight loss or gain even they are not dieting?

Other symptoms include:  lack of sleep, excessive fatigue or sleepiness, recurrent thoughts of suicide, restlessness or listlessness, aches and pains that never improve, problems digesting food, chest pain, headaches, backaches, and family history of depression.

If a person manifests five or more of the above symptoms they should consult a mental health care professional.

Depression is a biological illness.  Medication and counseling are treatment options but it’s very important that the patient receives support from family and friends.

Please visit the other mental illness care resources on this page for treatment options.